Hormone terminology

It is first necessary to clarify terminology in this field. The terms action, effect and Junction of a hormone are often used indiscriminately. Since there are no clear-cut definitions, this can be confusing. Consequently, definitions, even if only operational, are put forward here and are used throughout this chapter. 

Diabetes mellitus is a disease caused by insufficient insulin secretion or a decrease in the peripheral effects of insulin. This disease is characterized by a primary defect in the metabolism of carbohydrates and other energy substrates. These metabolic defects can lead to serious acute and chronic pathologic changes. The term diabetes mellitus differentiates this disease from an unrelated disorder known as diabetes insipidus. Diabetes insipidus is caused by a lack of antidiuretic hormone (ADH) production or insensitivity to ADH. Consequently, the full terminology of diabetes mellitus should be used when referring to the insulin-related disease. Most clinicians, however, refer to diabetes mellitus as simply diabetes. ... 

As the laboratory assessment of thyroid disease has been refined through die wide-scale availability of improved techniques and commercial kits, some confusion in terminology has developed. Table 52-1 is a review of the nomenclature for tests of thyroid hormones and thyroid-related proteins in serum. Guidehnes for the classification of various thyroid tests have been further described in a special report of the American Thyroid Association. 

This terminology and these definitions, though not always appropriate and possibly misleading, are used for want of better alternatives. The term hormone comes... 

In previous reviews we have loosely termed hormonally-derived olfactory stimuli hormonal pheromones, without considering that in many cases they are likely to be components of more complex mixtures with extended evolutionary histories. There has been the potential for confusion about how a pheromone should be defined. Accordingly, our first goal in this paper is to clarify terminology. 

Kaldewey H (1968a) Auxin transport general remarks concerning the terminology and the methods. In Vardar Y (ed) The transport of plant hormones. North-Holland, Amsterdam, pp 1-23... 

A note on terminology is in order Receptor was originally used in biochemistry to describe large cellular molecules like proteins that interact with smaller molecules such as hormones. The term is now also used in risk assessments to refer to organisms or ecosystems that may be impacted by a toxic chemical or other stressor (see Section 6.2 and Chapters 8 and 9). Which of the two meanings of receptor is intended may be surmised from the context. 

The terminology of the vitamin D metabolites has not changed, and relatively little new resulted from basic research on vitamin D or cholecalciferol skin biosynthesis and subsequent biotransformations in the liver and kidney (Figure 1). Understandings of the role of the hormonal form of vitamin D, 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D (l,25(OH)2D3), in intestinal absorbing cells have been expanded. In addition, new information suggests that the consumption of dietary calcium at adequate levels may reduce the critical need for vitamin D for the maintenance of serum calcium concentration. New information is also emerging on the role of vitamin D in patients with chronic renal failure and in the prevention of colon cancer. 

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